Communicating and Learning in Engineering Online Resources 1

Preparing a Timetable

1. Draw up a study timetable (see samples below) and block in all activities, work, lectures, and any household or other responsibilities you may have. Include meal times and travel time. Be realistic. This should be an actual timetable, which is possible, not some ideal that can never be achieved. Make enough copies to cover all the weeks leading up to exams or assessment.

2. Work out your most effective study times. When do you study best?

Morning, afternoon or evening?

3. Consider: Which subjects need the most study and revision? Estimate how many hours you think you need for each subject and try to match this with the hours available in your weekly planner.

4. Block in some study times, preferably 2-4 hours at a time, with 5-10

minutes break every 40-50 minutes.

5. Start at exam periods or due dates for assignments and work backwards, blocking in more study time in the relevant subject closer to the exam/due date. Make sure that you prepare for each exam over several days and dont fill up the last few days too heavily. Also put in any events which may affect your study times, such as birthdays, social events and work functions.

6. You may want to plan in detail for each study session. Write down which

lecture/topic/text you will be researching/ reviewing. This way, you can ensure that you will cover all the required information in the times you have allocated. Consider: What do I want to achieve in this session? (eg: summary/ notes / list of definitions/ language exercise/ essay plan/ list of resources/ timeline). Where will I need to study? Do I need access to a computer/ the internet/ the library?

7. If you have some smaller amounts of time available for study, consider

how they could be used: skim reading an article, proofing a draft, sorting a bibliography, organising reference cards, etc. Travel time on public transport can also be used for reading.

Start using your study timetable. See how well it works. What did you leave out? It can be changed as you go, but do this consciously: look at what is not working, which areas you need more time in and change the timetable. This is much better than just throwing the timetable away. Then you can be sure that you will still cover all the material you need to.

Preparing a Study Timetable sample study timetable (on-campus, full-time)

Monday Tuesday Wednesday Thursday Friday Saturday Sunday 8-9am GYM TRAVEL GYM TRAVEL 9-10am 10-11am

CLASSES

11-12

STUDY (3hrs)

CLASSES

STUDY (3hrs)

STUDY (3hrs)

12-1pm LUNCH LUNCH 1-2pm LUNCH LUNCH LUNCH

FOOD SHOPPING

LUNCH CHORES

2-3pm TRAVEL CLASSES

3-4pm

STUDY (3.5hrs) TRAVEL

WORK

4-5pm

STUDY (3hrs)

CLASSES CLASSES

STUDY (3.5hrs)

5-6pm TRAVEL TRAVEL DINNER 6-7pm

STUDY (2.5hrs)

7-8pm

CHORES DINNER

DINNER DINNER DINNER DINNER

DINNER

8-9pm 9-10pm

WORK

10-11pm

WORK

STUDY (3hrs)

STUDY (3hrs) STUDY

STUDY (3hrs)

GO OUT

STUDY (3hrs)

11-12pm Study hrs: 6 3 6 7.5 5.5 0 6.5 Total study hours per week: 34.5 Subject 1 (hardest): 12 Subject 2 (middle): 8 Subject 3 (middle): 8 Subject 4 (easiest): 6.5

Communicating and Learning in Engineering Online Resources 2

Preparing a Study Timetable sample study timetable (off-campus, part-time)

Monday Tuesday Wednesday Thursday Friday Saturday Sunday 8-9am Travel Travel Travel Travel Travel 9-10am 10-11am 11-12 12-1pm

WORK

WORK

WORK

WORK

WORK

1-2pm Lunch Lunch Lunch Lunch Lunch

Food

Shopping, Lunch Chores

2-3pm 3-4pm 4-5pm

WORK

WORK

WORK

WORK

WORK

Family Time

5-6pm Travel Travel Travel Travel Travel

Study

(in the library) (3hrs)

6-7pm Dinner Dinner 7-8pm Dinner Dinner Dinner Dinner Dinner 8-9pm 9-10pm

Study (2hrs)

Online

Tutorial Study (2hrs)

Study (2hrs)

Study (2hrs)

10-11pm

Study (4hrs)

11-12pm

Study hrs: 2 2 - 2 4 5 Total study hours per week: 15 Subject 1 (HARDEST): 9 Subject 2 (EASIEST): 6 Plus

Communicating and Learning in Engineering Online Resources 3 Reading time on train: 6 hours approx (10 hours less walking time and work-related reading)

Preparing a Study Timetable blank timetable: for you to complete Monday Tuesday Wednesday Thursday Friday Saturday Sunday 8-9am

9-10am

10-11am

11-12

12-1pm

1-2 mp

2-3 mp

3-4 mp

4-5 mp

5-6 mp

6-7 mp

7-8 mp

8-9 mp

9-10pm

10-11pm

11-12pm

Communicating and Learning in Engineering Online Resources 4

Preparing a TimetablePreparing a Study Timetable Preparing a Study TimetableStudy hrs: 2 2 - 2 4 5Plus

Preparing a Study Timetable